Fence post puller



y 1933- I F. G. CARREL 1,916,463

FENCE POST FULLER Filed Nov. 24, 1950 Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK, e. 01.13am, on WESTERN srnrnes v I MENTS, 'ro CALUMET STEEL COMPANY, E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELA ARE Application filed November 24, 1930; Serial No. 497,658.

My invention relates to fence post pullers and is directed towards providing a device of this character which is intended for use in connection with metal fence posts of the driven type.

' One object of my invention is to devise a fence post puller having apart which is engageable with the post and another part which functions as the lever a'rm,'the two parts being pivotally connected to permit of I their relative positioning in order to most effectively meet operating conditions.

A further object is. to provide a tool of the character indicated in which the postengag- 7 ing part is shaped and adapted to be swung to closely conform to thecross sectional profile of the lever part in order to facilitate its storage and improve its general handling properties.

A further objectis to devise a post puller which combines lightness in weight with maximum strength'through forming the lever parts from tubing, with the post engag- 'ing end thereof suitably reenforced to carry the stresses and strains of the pulling operation. 7 I f A further object is to'provide a combination tool which is adapted to position fence posts of the driven type, as well as to remove such posts from the ground, the arrangement of parts beingsuch that they mutually contribu'teto either result dependent upon the mannerin which the toolis being used A further object is to devise a tool of the type noted above which is characterized by simplicity ,7 of construction, a ready adaptation to either manner of-use, and ample strength for its primary purpose.-

These and further objects of my invention will, be set forth in thefollowing specification, reference being. had to the accompanying drawing, and thenovel means by which said objects are efiectuated will bedefinitely pointed out in the claims, V:

In the drawing: v Figure 1 is a perspective viewshowing the position assumed by my improved post puller in the act .of withdrawing a post from Fig. 2is a vertical elevation of the puller,

gages a fence post.

that the member 15 may be swung on its pivot 13 to the position shown in Fig. 1, or to that shown in Fig. 2 in which the member closely POST I FULLER u post engaging member in folded showing the relation to the lever arm or handle.

, ILLINOIS; ASSIGNOR, EY MESNE AssIeN- Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig.1, and showingthe manner in which the Fig. 4: is a vertical elevation of a fence post and also the fence puller, the latter being used as a post driven,

Referring to the drawing, myimproved fence post puller comprises a leverarm, or

ple length of tubing having any desired cross sectional profile. In one end of the arm 10 puller enhandle, 10, which may be formed from a sim- 5 is fixed a plug 11 by means'of a rivet or bolt (55 12 and also extending through said arm and 'throughsaid plug, adjacent. the outer extremities of each, is'a rivet or bolt 13, which the arm for a purpose presently explained 5 and, in this particular instance, it will be is employed to pivotally connect to the indicated. end of the arm 10 on opposite sides thereof the spaced arms 14 of'a post engaging noted that the arm has a circular'cross section,'while that of the member 15 is partic'ircular, the relation of these parts being such hugs the adjacent surface of the arm 10; It is contemplatedthatadjacent the free end of the member 15' will be provided'a slot 16 having a shape'dependent upon the cross sectional profile of the fence post-with which the puller will be employed andlyingwholly within the marginal outline of said member. Inthe present instance,-the fence post 17 embodies a substantially -T-sh'aped cross section and also a plurality of lugs 18 which are distributed along the length of the post 17 on l {the side of the post which is opposite to that portion constituting the upright 'of'the T. Accordingly, the slot 16 will have a companion shape in which the upright of the slot will be longitudinally disposed relative to the member 15, with the wings of said slot extending transversely of said member, as

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shown clearly in Fig. 2. The lugs 18 are provided on the post 17 principally as a means for supporting the strands of wire comprising the customary wire fence and advantage is taken of their presence on the fence post to secure an effective cooperation between the fence puller and the post, although it will be understood that the presence of these lugs is not absolutely necessary to the effective action of the tool, for reasons presently explained. Fence posts of the character indi cated by the numeral 17 are customarily provided on their embedded end with a sharpened point 19 and, at some convenient dis tance above the indicated end, with an anchor plate 20 which is appropriately secured to the post and also intended to be embedded in the ground for resisting uprooting forces and also those operating in the general direction of the fence line which would otherwise tend to move the post into a canted position. The precise construction of the fence post forms nopart of the present invention, although it is contemplated that the post will be of the driven type, as contrasted with those whose lower ends are embedded in a concrete base and therefore not susceptible of being with drawn by tools of the character under dis cussion.

In using my improved tool as a post puller, all wires will be first removed from those posts which are to be withdrawn, after which the member 15 will be swung to a position constituting a general prolongation of the arm 10 and then slipped over the post 17 down to a position relatively close to the ground, as shown in Fig. 3. The tool will then be drawn slightly to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, in order to place the lip 21 at the end of the member under one of the lugs 18 on the post. By then resting the lever arm 10 upon a fulcrum block 22, and pressing downwardly on the outer end of the arm 10, it will be obvious that a withdrawing pull will be exercised against the post 17. The pivotal relation between the member 15 and the arm 10 permits of their relative positioning in order to achieve the most effective pulling action possible and it also permits the member 15 to be swung into such a position, in the event that the particular post is not provided with lugssiniilar to 18, that the opposite edges of the slot 16 will bind against the contacted surfaces of the post in order to establish the necessary frictional pressure forwithdrawing the post from'tlle ground. By using a hollow, lever arm 10, the maximum strength combined with lightness in weight, is achieved, while the employment of the plug 11 at the post engaging end of the arm 10 satisfactorily strengthens the arm in the indicated location. It is also possible through the use of a tubular, level arm, to employ in connection therewith an additional tube or pole of smaller diameter which might be inserted in the open end of said arm in the event that a longer lever arm is found necessary to withdraw any particular post. The particular section of the post engaging member 15 as shown, or one of comparative cross sectional profile in relation to the arm 1-0, provides for the maximum strength for this element of the tool, and it also permits the latter to be swung in closely engaging relation with the arm 10, as shown in Fig. '2. A further usefor my improved tool is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the same is shown as being used as a post driver. Under this condition of use, thepost engaging member 15 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, where it does not interfere with the driving operation, and the hollow, lever arm 10 is slipped over the outside of the post 17 and moved upwardly and downwardly after the manner of a pile driver, the plug 11 furnishing the actual driving contact with the upper end of the post, with the hollow arm 10 serving as a guide and insuring the correct application of the driving force to the end of the post.

#Vhile I have shown one set of elements and combinations thereof for efi'ectuating my improved tool, it will be understood that the same is intended for purpose of illustration only and in no wise tolimit the device to the exact forms and structures shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A fence post puller comprising a lever arm and a part swingably connected thereto for engagementwith a post, said part having a transverse sectional profile conforming to the corresponding profile of said arm and adapted to be swung to lie close to said arm.

2. A fence post puller comprising a lever arm having a circularcros's section and a part swingably connected thereto for engagement with a post, said part having a particircular cross section conforming to the corresponding section of said arm and adapted to. be swung to partially embrace said arm.

3. A fence post puller comprising a hollow lever arm, a plug fixed in one end of said arm, and a part swingably connected to said arm and plug for engagement with a post, said part having a transverse sectional profile conforming to the corresponding profile of said arm and adapted to'be swung to lie close to said arm. 7

l. .A fence post puller comprising a lever arm having a circular cross section and a part swingably connected thereto for engagement with a post, said part having a particircular cross section conforming to the corresponding section of said arm whereby said part may be swung to partially embrace said arm whenretracted and including an opening for passinga post therethrough, the sides file of the adjacent end of said arm and adapted to be swung to lie close to said arm,

- 7. A fence post puller comprising a lever arm and a part swingably connected thereto I for engagement with a post, said part havlng a transverse profile conforming to the corresponding profile'of said arm whereby said part may be swung to partially embrace said arm when retracted and including an opening for passing a post therethrough, the sides of said opening engaging the post during withdrawal thereof; v 7

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name 7 FRANK o. CARREL. 

